Matt Rhule discusses how quickly freshmen receivers could push for roles
The Matt Rhule era of Nebraska Cornhuskers football is set to kick off on August 31 against Minnesota. This season will be an all hands on deck approach for the Cornhuskers, especially if they want to watch the taste out of their mouth from their 4-8 season in 2022.
With that being the case, Nebraska will take contributions from any and all who are willing to help the team succeed this season. But Rhule is not looking for his freshman players to contribute right out of the gate. When it comes to his incoming talent, particularly at wideout, the Cornhuskers’ headman believes it is his veteran players they need to set the tone starting in Week 1.
“Yeah, I’m giving them all an opportunity to play. I don’t know that we need any of the freshmen to play at wideout,” said Rhule. “We’d love to have them play if they’re ready. But the older guys know how to play. That first game, the team were playing, that’s gonna be a grown man game. They play real football.”
The Big Ten Conference is known for its physical style of play, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are a testament to that gritty, in the trenches style of football. So, those incoming freshmen might not have the necessary weight and size to go toe to toe with one of the better teams of the Big Ten.
Still, Nebraska does have one incoming freshman at wide receiver that local fans are salivating to see make an impact on the field soon. However, Rhule is not forcing anything on his young players and says that when they are ready to play, they will play.
“Some young players will be ready; some won’t. What you’re hoping is that we’re just gonna get a chance to get some play. And if they’re ready, they’re ready. If they’re not, they’re not.”
Lincoln, NE, native freshman wideout Malachi Coleman has all the tools to be an elite pass catcher at the collegiate level. According to On3’s Industry Rankings, the six-foot-four wide receiver was a top-tier four-star recruit in the 2023 class, ranking No. 60 in the nation, No. 10 at receiver, and the top recruit out of Nebraska.
Fans of the Cornhuskers should expect Coleman to play a significant role in the program’s future plans. But as for now, Rhule did not plan on putting any added pressure on the freshman to shine in his first season.
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